Plans are revised for new Grammar

Jun 21 2007 Report by Alastair McNeill

REVISED plans for the controversial Uddingston Grammar School project have been lodged with planners.

It follows a recent meeting between South Lanarkshire Council officials and councillor Jim McGuigan to discuss the issue.

The new Bothwell and Uddingston councillor said this week an updated planning application was necessary to shed light on how work had been proceeding at the site since last September.

Residents neighbouring the site at Meadowbank have been concerned that developers inspirED may have breached some of the conditions laid down when the plan for the £18.1m school was approved in March 2006.

Before the go-ahead was granted, Uddingston Community Council said a proposed bund (or embankment) at the site would interfere with a gas pipeline.

Officials pointed out that if inspirED wanted to proceed as planned it would “be necessary to take measures to protect/divert (Scotland Gas Network) plant at the developer’s cost.”

But late last year residents neighbouring the site pointed out that planners had told them inspirED were not prepared to move the gas pipeline which crosses the site because it would prove “too costly.”

At that time, inspirED were unable to confirm or deny whether the pipeline would not be moved.

They also pointed out that while changes to the ‘footprint’ of the school had taken place, a new planning application was not necessary.

However, during the meeting between the new SNP councillor for the Bothwell and Uddingston ward, Jim McGuigan, officials agreed to write to inspirED about the planning issue.

Mr McGuigan, told the Advertiser this week: “We came to the conclusion that a letter had to be sent out to inspirED.

“I consider it to be poor practice to let these matters drift for this length of time.

“For me it’s about open government. There’s a body of concern in the area about what has been going on.

“Instead of having a planning department and contractors working in a huddle and keeping people in the dark, an amended plan would let the hundreds of objectors to the plan see what has been happening at the site, and how it relates to the original planning application.”

A council spokeswoman said this week that discussions had taken place between project construction contractor Amec Group Limited (AGL) and planning officers on the issue.

She added: “A planning re-submittal has been made by AGL on behalf of inspirED.

“It relates only to a realignment of the flood prevention bund where it is adjacent to the gas main under part of the site, and the consequent adjustment to the all-weather pitches, all within the existing planning consent boundaries.

“The project will not be delayed by this re-submittal and construction of the new grammar school building is progressing to programme.”